IIT Bombay students say stir only for reform

Mumbai: A group of IIT Bombay students announced on Monday that their protest over the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Ravindra Wakode was not meant to justify academic misconduct or cheating, but to draw attention to systemic issues within the institute. The tragic loss of Sahil, a student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, on September 18 prompted the students to reflect on the systems and processes at IIT Bombay.

The student representatives clarified that they never presumed guilt or prejudged the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sahil's death. They emphasized that their demands were for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the Dean of Administrative Affairs, to be relieved of his duties during the investigation to ensure its fairness and impartiality.

The students also stressed that the concerns arising from the tragedy should remain student-led and addressed within the institute, without external political interests or narratives influencing the student community's concerns. IIT Bombay students expressed their unity and commitment to seeking accountability, transparency, and institutional reform, while working constructively with the institute to build a safer, more accountable, and supportive campus.